45 minutes ago, chelon said:

Yes I'd be interested Steve - although I'd expect the default settings to allow stall-free driving lol

Up to my eyeballs at the moment - made a note and will get back to you in due course

On 15/06/2025 at 18:58, AllanDJ said:

There have been some issues with the 1.5 engine for quite some time, across a wide variety of different ŠKODA cars. The main issue being the car losing power and being unable to move on at all. Usually it’s when you’re slowing down approaching a junction and there’s nothing much you can do about it when it happens. It’s not usually a common occurrence but I’ve experienced it in three different cars.

First one being a 2019 mark 3 Octavia, which had the so called kangarooing issue, when pulling away at low speeds. Skoda’s answer was a software update which increased the idling speed and made that particular car about 10% less economical. That issue never happened again with that car after the software update nuked the cars performance permanently. The ŠKODA dealers weren’t interested and just said that the car was within the normal range for that model.

Next one is my current Octavia, a 2022 model, it conked out maybe three or four times in its first year and never again since then. The third car is my parents automatic Karoq with the same engine. Again in its first year it conked out about three times, on one occasion I was driving it and something ran out in front of the car. I had to brake sharply, at which point the car lost all power and the car behind me nearly rear ended me. This fault is not supposed to be an issue with automatic cars but very obviously is!

With this engine fault, you have no control of the car at all for a short time and then it can seem normal. With my current car, it once conked out just before a roundabout, seemed to come back and then died again, just after the roundabout. It’s pretty alarming if you’re not expecting this and are in a dangerous location without the ability to move your car to safety.

Whilst I have come across lots of reports of this issue with manual cars yours is the first report regarding a DSG.

Not something that I have come across in the first few hundred miles with our new DSG Karoq.

On 14/06/2025 at 14:13, chelon said:

I've only used Normal since I got the car Steve (so many other things to work out before I go playing with that)

To be honest the car defaults back to 'Normal' at every ignition on and off so I'd imagine the car is in 'Normal' the majority of the time.

I felt none of the selectable modes in our 2023 1.5 TSi manual made much difference to it's propensity for stalling and the only really noticeable difference I found was the heavier steering in 'Sport'.

There is a much more noticeable difference between the modes in the replacement (DSG) car, mainly as a consequence of DSG shift points / coasting etc.

Hope you get a positive outcome from your dealings with the service desk.

23 hours ago, chelon said:

At last a few others who agree it is a pretty serious safety issue....

Downgraded from “MAJOR” then!? 😁

Seriously tho, hope they get it sorted for you promptly 👍

@chelon The Drive Mode selection covers Driving Dynamics, Steering, Drive, ACC and Air Conditioning. In 'Normal' mode, they are all set as Normal (no surprises there then!).

In 'Individual' mode they can be tweaked; this is what I use and some rationale...

• Driving Dynamics: Sport. Even though my does not have the Dynamic Chassis Control option, I feel that the suspension is a little less bouncy of some poorly repaired local roads use regularly. Maybe this is my imagination, maybe it isn't! But somehow it feels that little bit better.

• Steering: Normal. The other option is 'Sport' which makes the steering a bit sharper and heavier - too much so for my liking for everyday driving.

• Drive: Normal. Other options are 'Sport' and 'Eco'. Sport has a sharper throttle response and disables the stop/start function. Eco has a slower throttle response and will invoke stop/start more readily. Neither suit me and my driving style.

• ACC: Eco. The Eco mode gives a smoother, less jerky, drive. If ACC slows the car due to traffic in front, once that clears it accelerates more gently in ECO than others. More comfortable in my view.

• Air Conditioning: ECO. Compared to Normal it reduces the output, most notably when stop/start is activated, so less load on the battery whilst the engine is not running. I usually leave the Clima in Auto mode along with this ECO selection.

I set this up ages ago and I'm assuming the behaviours are the same following multiple s/w updates to Infotainment System and some other components, including the ECU.

@pinkpanther correctly points out that car always starts in 'Normal' mode; I assume this is to do with WLTP certification. For example, if Sport mode were selected and remained selected for subsequent journeys the emissions and fuel consumption may be higher leading to complaints, blah blah blah. Lawyers covering their backsides I guess.

6 hours ago, SteveTheElder said:

@chelon The Drive Mode selection covers Driving Dynamics, Steering, Drive, ACC and Air Conditioning. In 'Normal' mode, they are all set as Normal (no surprises there then!).

In 'Individual' mode they can be tweaked; this is what I use and some rationale...

• Driving Dynamics: Sport. Even though my does not have the Dynamic Chassis Control option, I feel that the suspension is a little less bouncy of some poorly repaired local roads use regularly. Maybe this is my imagination, maybe it isn't! But somehow it feels that little bit better.

• Steering: Normal. The other option is 'Sport' which makes the steering a bit sharper and heavier - too much so for my liking for everyday driving.

• Drive: Normal. Other options are 'Sport' and 'Eco'. Sport has a sharper throttle response and disables the stop/start function. Eco has a slower throttle response and will invoke stop/start more readily. Neither suit me and my driving style.

• ACC: Eco. The Eco mode gives a smoother, less jerky, drive. If ACC slows the car due to traffic in front, once that clears it accelerates more gently in ECO than others. More comfortable in my view.

• Air Conditioning: ECO. Compared to Normal it reduces the output, most notably when stop/start is activated, so less load on the battery whilst the engine is not running. I usually leave the Clima in Auto mode along with this ECO selection.

I set this up ages ago and I'm assuming the behaviours are the same following multiple s/w updates to Infotainment System and some other components, including the ECU.

@pinkpanther correctly points out that car always starts in 'Normal' mode; I assume this is to do with WLTP certification. For example, if Sport mode were selected and remained selected for subsequent journeys the emissions and fuel consumption may be higher leading to complaints, blah blah blah. Lawyers covering their backsides I guess.

Thanks Steve, like a lot of things on this car a subject in itself. I've not even tried to understand the air-con settings on the car yet (too many other things to try to learn about) but that's interesting re the ACC settings.

In all seriousness, my initial impression is this is a car that's too clever for its' own good. There's just so many things that could go wrong compared to an "old" car. Computers don't often get stuff wrong but as we all know they do run slow/hang/need rebooted etc.

As another example recently I couldnt get the handbrake to release no matter what I did...ended up getting out the car unlocking doors again and trying again and handbrake did release ok. A minor quibble yes but does not fill you with confidence re the cars' myriad systems just waiting to hang up when you're travelling at speed...

^^^^ Agreeing ........

With my car, the advice was to read the manual before driving it for the first time.

Have you seen the size of the blumin manual. Must be over a million words.

I'd definitely be late for work, Lol.

And how the heck am I supposed to remember even 1% of that information.

I can remember how to start the engine but every time i try to alter the exterior lighting it tells me I can't, Lol.

Some of the tech works well but there's too much 'tech stuff' for my liking but hey, others will disagree.

I've only ever come across one car that stalled at the traffic lights and that was a VW Passat during a test drive many moons ago.

Hasten to add for however much the seller tried to assure me that there was nothing wrong with the car and it hadn't done it before, I didn't buy it.

@chelon Hope you get yours sorted.

On 17/06/2025 at 18:38, chelon said:

Thanks Steve, like a lot of things on this car a subject in itself. I've not even tried to understand the air-con settings on the car yet (too many other things to try to learn about) but that's interesting re the ACC settings.

In all seriousness, my initial impression is this is a car that's too clever for its' own good. There's just so many things that could go wrong compared to an "old" car. Computers don't often get stuff wrong but as we all know they do run slow/hang/need rebooted etc.

As another example recently I couldnt get the handbrake to release no matter what I did...ended up getting out the car unlocking doors again and trying again and handbrake did release ok. A minor quibble yes but does not fill you with confidence re the cars' myriad systems just waiting to hang up when you're travelling at speed...

Possibly not the reason in your case but if the driver’s door isn’t properly shut the car won’t release the handbrake either manually or automatically until you’ve properly shut the door.

We have also had a major safety issue with our Skoda Octavia 2017. Initially it would shudder a lot before stalling, and mostly happened when stopped at traffic lights so it wasn't too dangerous. We needed to turn off the car and restart it. We have had a software update and cam sensors replaced and this stopped or significantly lessened the shuddering but it still happened occasionally. Then last week it happened in traffic at 80km/hour! I had to put the hazard lights on and gradually slow down but it was very dangerous! It has also happened at an intersection a couple of times previously.

On 25/06/2025 at 08:14, Sarahsarco said:

We have also had a major safety issue with our Skoda Octavia 2017. Initially it would shudder a lot before stalling, and mostly happened when stopped at traffic lights so it wasn't too dangerous. We needed to turn off the car and restart it. We have had a software update and cam sensors replaced and this stopped or significantly lessened the shuddering but it still happened occasionally. Then last week it happened in traffic at 80km/hour! I had to put the hazard lights on and gradually slow down but it was very dangerous! It has also happened at an intersection a couple of times previously.

This is the worry and how anyone can say it's not a major issue is beyond me. Another scenario is where you're pulling out say from a T junction into a major road and cars are flying along, there may be a bend involved and poor visibility etc.

All very well saying it's their fault for not braking as you're getting rear ended...